Seasonal Safety Tips

by Larry Feldman

At this time of year, the activity level in the kitchen intensifies to almost a fever pitch, so once again, the Foodies team would like to offer some festive safety and entertaining tips.

• Never leave cooking items unattended, and remember to maintain proper cooking and storage temperatures.
   
• Ensure pot handles are turned inward and not sticking out.
   
• Keep knives sharp, but keep them out of the sink when it’s full. Someone could reach in and get a nasty surprise.
   
• You never hope to need them, but a small fire extinguisher and a first aid kit can prove invaluable.
   
• Your kitchen is hectic enough, so encourage little ones and pets not to get underfoot.
   
• Avoid cross-contamination when preparing your bird. Use one cutting board for meat and one for vegetables.
   
• Allow leftovers to cool to room temperature before putting in fridge. Putting hot or warm food in the fridge heats up the food around it, and could cause unwanted condensation.
   
• To add festive colour to your buffet table, cut the top off of a large green, yellow or red pepper, hollow out and use as a dip bowl.

Eat, drink and be merry… the first two in moderation! Have a Merry Christmas and a safe and Happy New Year, from the Foodies Blog Team!